Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns in PartnersEffectsDo I Show Signs of Sex Addiction?Root CausesIn RelationshipsWhen to Seek Professional Sex Addiction HelpTreatment OptionsSex During Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs in Partners
Effects
Do I Show Signs of Sex Addiction?
Root Causes
In Relationships
When to Seek Professional Sex Addiction Help
Treatment Options
Sex During Treatment
Sex addiction can have real consequences for relationships, including infidelity, lying, and associated problems related to intimacy and trust. If you’re wondering about sex addiction in someone else, you may already have intuitive feelings that something is wrong.You may have noticed they’re mentally checked out of your relationship, spending excessive time alone,returning home later than usual, or frequently making excuses to go out alone.
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Signs of a Behavioral Addiction
Signs of Sex Addiction in Partners
One telltale sign is a lack of control over sexual urges and behaviors despite negative consequences.
Other signs of sex addiction in partners may include:
Bear in mind that sex addiction is a contested concept in some therapeutic communities, seen as stigmatizing and lacking in sufficient evidence. Sex addiction is also not an official diagnosis and, therefore, doesn’t have set symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Several other conditions may have overlapping signs of sex addiction, which can make it challenging to determine if your partner is experiencing a sex addiction or a condition associated with hypersexuality.
Conditions that commonly occur with sex addiction:
Hypersexuality: What Causes It and How To Get Help
Effects of Someone Else’s Sex Addiction
Sex addiction hurts the person experiencing these uncontrollable urges, fantasies, and behaviors—but can also have real consequences for partners, too.
A partner living with someone who has a sexual addiction may experience effects that can be hidden but severe and include:
Understanding Relationship Trauma
If looking at signs of sex addiction has you wondering if you’re hypersexual or if it’s just hormones, here are a few things to consider while self-reflecting.
Research has found that about 8% of individuals experience sexual compulsions meeting the criteria for addiction.Having sexual urges and fantasies, engaging in sexual activity, cybersex, watching pornography, having multiple partners, and regularly masturbating doesn’t mean you’re a sex addict.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
ADHD and Hypersexuality in Relationships
What Is the Root of Sex Addiction?
Experts suggest the following can all contribute to sex addiction:
Do Men Experience Sex Addiction More?Sex and gender may play some role in who experiences sex addiction, but more research is needed. Research has shown a higher number of men compared to women have sex addiction or compulsive sexual behaviors (and that’s the commonly held belief). One review of research found insignificant differences between rates of sex addiction in men and women.
Do Men Experience Sex Addiction More?
Sex and gender may play some role in who experiences sex addiction, but more research is needed. Research has shown a higher number of men compared to women have sex addiction or compulsive sexual behaviors (and that’s the commonly held belief). One review of research found insignificant differences between rates of sex addiction in men and women.
Porn Addiction Signs
How to Handle Sex Addiction in Relationships
Sex addiction takes a toll on both people in the relationship. Experts say handling sex addiction in a relationship is best done with a three-stool approach:
This way, both partners learn coping tools and gain a deeper understanding of sex addiction, and the couple learns strategies and how to move forward with their collective treatment goals.
It’s never too early to seek professional help. If you’re looking for resources online, it’s a good sign you may want to reach out for additional support.
Professionals who can help include:
You can also work with sex therapists who have a master’s or doctorate, along with specific sex therapy training and licensure through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.
Online and in-person support groups like theSex Addicts Anonymousare also available.
What Is Mental Health Counseling?
Treatment Options for Sex Addiction
Sex addiction will likely not get better on its own. Treatment options for sex addiction include:
There’s no medication for treating sex addiction. Prescriptions for underlying conditions may be included in the treatment plan.
Relationship Between Bipolar and ADHD
Sex During Sex Addiction Treatment
Celibacy agreements are part of many treatment plans.This may include celibacy from real-life sex, masturbation, pornography, or other obsessions.
Duration of time without sex (abstinence) when in sex addiction treatment has been associated with sustained recovery.
Sex Addiction: How to Overcome Compulsions
Summary
Sex addiction is an unofficial addiction that has serious effects on relationships. Sex addiction signs include repeated sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviors despite consequences to self or others. Treatment includes seeking professional help and support for the person experiencing sex addiction, their partner, and the couple as well.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thibodeau JS.“It’s a very silent pain”: a phenomenological study of women who are in a relationship with a sexually addicted spouse.Scholars Commons at Laurier.2015.Carnes S.Sex addiction: neuroscience etiology and treatment. National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellors.Dickenson JA, Gleason N, Coleman E, Miner MH.Prevalence of distress associated with difficulty controlling sexual urges, feelings, and behaviors in the United States.JAMA Netw Open.2018;1(7):e184468. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4468Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder—a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95–101. doi:10.1177/26318318221081080Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder— a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95-101.Kürbitz LI, Briken P.Is compulsive sexual behavior different in women compared to men?J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3205. doi:10.3390/jcm10153205American Addiction Centers.Sex addiction treatment.American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.AASECT requirements for sex therapist certification.Yaniv E, Gola M.Compulsive sexual behavior: a twelve-step therapeutic approach.Journal of Behavioral Addictions.2018;7.2: 445-453. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.26
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thibodeau JS.“It’s a very silent pain”: a phenomenological study of women who are in a relationship with a sexually addicted spouse.Scholars Commons at Laurier.2015.Carnes S.Sex addiction: neuroscience etiology and treatment. National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellors.Dickenson JA, Gleason N, Coleman E, Miner MH.Prevalence of distress associated with difficulty controlling sexual urges, feelings, and behaviors in the United States.JAMA Netw Open.2018;1(7):e184468. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4468Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder—a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95–101. doi:10.1177/26318318221081080Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder— a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95-101.Kürbitz LI, Briken P.Is compulsive sexual behavior different in women compared to men?J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3205. doi:10.3390/jcm10153205American Addiction Centers.Sex addiction treatment.American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.AASECT requirements for sex therapist certification.Yaniv E, Gola M.Compulsive sexual behavior: a twelve-step therapeutic approach.Journal of Behavioral Addictions.2018;7.2: 445-453. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.26
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Thibodeau JS.“It’s a very silent pain”: a phenomenological study of women who are in a relationship with a sexually addicted spouse.Scholars Commons at Laurier.2015.Carnes S.Sex addiction: neuroscience etiology and treatment. National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellors.Dickenson JA, Gleason N, Coleman E, Miner MH.Prevalence of distress associated with difficulty controlling sexual urges, feelings, and behaviors in the United States.JAMA Netw Open.2018;1(7):e184468. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4468Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder—a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95–101. doi:10.1177/26318318221081080Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder— a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95-101.Kürbitz LI, Briken P.Is compulsive sexual behavior different in women compared to men?J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3205. doi:10.3390/jcm10153205American Addiction Centers.Sex addiction treatment.American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.AASECT requirements for sex therapist certification.Yaniv E, Gola M.Compulsive sexual behavior: a twelve-step therapeutic approach.Journal of Behavioral Addictions.2018;7.2: 445-453. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.26
Thibodeau JS.“It’s a very silent pain”: a phenomenological study of women who are in a relationship with a sexually addicted spouse.Scholars Commons at Laurier.2015.
Carnes S.Sex addiction: neuroscience etiology and treatment. National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellors.
Dickenson JA, Gleason N, Coleman E, Miner MH.Prevalence of distress associated with difficulty controlling sexual urges, feelings, and behaviors in the United States.JAMA Netw Open.2018;1(7):e184468. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4468
Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder—a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95–101. doi:10.1177/26318318221081080
Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS.Sexual addiction disorder— a review with recent updates.Journal of Psychosexual Health. 2022;4(2):95-101.
Kürbitz LI, Briken P.Is compulsive sexual behavior different in women compared to men?J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3205. doi:10.3390/jcm10153205
American Addiction Centers.Sex addiction treatment.
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists.AASECT requirements for sex therapist certification.
Yaniv E, Gola M.Compulsive sexual behavior: a twelve-step therapeutic approach.Journal of Behavioral Addictions.2018;7.2: 445-453. doi:10.1556/2006.7.2018.26
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